SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 772

BYRepresentatives Madsen and Fisch

Revising property tax provisions.

House Committe on Ways & Means/Revenue

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 30, 1987

Majority Report:     Do pass as amended.

     Signed by Senators McDermott, Chairman; Bauer, Craswell, Deccio, Kreidler, McDonald, Owen, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Saling, Talmadge, Vognild, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:William Bafus (786-7437)

                March 31, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 30, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Refunds of taxes are subject to 5 percent interest per annum from date of collection of the portion refundable or from the date of claim for refund, whichever is later.

Cities are authorized to levy 22 1/2 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for purposes of funding firemen's pension programs.  When so levied and for the purpose of funding firemen's pensions for older firemen, the general city levy is 3.375 per $1,000 of assessed value plus the 22 1/2 cents for a total of $3.60 per $1,000 of assessed value.  If an actuarial study determines sufficiency of funds to meet future obligations, the city may levy the full $3.60 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for general purposes.

Revaluations of property are required at least once every six years.  The process of conducting revaluations by county assessors is specified by statute.

Real and personal property that is destroyed in whole or in part, in an area that has been declared a disaster by the Governor is not eligible for reductions in value for taxing purposes.

County assessors are charged with the responsibility of keeping a list of the number of television sets in the television improvement district for billing a benefit assessment charge.

SUMMARY:

Interest owing on property tax refunds is changed from 5 percent to the equivalent coupon issue yield as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, measured by the 26-week average treasury bill rate.

Cities that have annexed to library districts and/or fire protection districts may not levy the 22 1/2 cents for firemen's pensions if it causes the combined levies to exceed the $9.15 statutory maximum or the one percent constitutional limit.

The Department of Revenue is authorized to approve a two-year revaluation plan for any county desiring to do so.

New procedures are provided for destroyed property in an area that has been declared a disaster area by the governor and reduced in value by more than 20 percent.

The county treasurer instead of the county assessor is designated as the repository for information determining the number of television sets to be included in a television improvement district.

Satellite dish antennas are eliminated from the information required by television improvement districts to enable the districts to bill for benefit assessment purposes.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Television sets connected to satellite dish antennas are included in television improvement districts.

Fiscal Note:    requested

Senate Committee - Testified:   Fred Saeger, Washington Association of County Officials